Representatives from a range of service provider groups gathered in Durban on Friday 3rd November 2023 to develop an integrative set of plans for the Mkhulise school improvement program.
The programme involves thirteen ECD centres which feed six primary schools which in turn feed three primary schools in the Clermont Kwa Dabeka sections of the Pinetown District.
The service providers included the Caversham Educational Institute, GROW, Edufundi, Digital Democracy, Izingcweti Ziyafunda, and Performance Solutions Africa.
The Mkhulise programme focuses on several critical areas in the education value chain vis:
Improving teaching and learning in ECD centres
Assisting ECD centres to build sound systems and sustainable practices
Improving reading in Foundation Phase
Supporting coding and programming at Intermediate Phase
Tutoring of Grades 11 and 12 pupils in Maths, Science and English
Improving School and curriculum management
Participants spent time working through each element above, to set the basis for the development of a fully integrated program covering ECD through to post-school bursaries, internships, and placements. The budget for the integrated programme is now being presented to a range of funders for consideration.
The multi-year Mkhulise programme which was initiated and is supported by the Beier group of companies will impact over 50, 000 beneficiaries and, is based on a range of clear principles including:
Very close contact with, and support from, the District Department of Education to align priorities
Collaboration between service providers across the education spectrum
The promotion of research and analysis especially of the challenges experienced by pupils moving from ECD to the Foundation Phase and from primary to secondary school levels
Promotion of communities of practice involving principals, HODs, and teachers
Engagement between industry (factory managers) and school principals around the challenges with the new world of work
“We have received excellent support from the Department of Education, Beier Industries, and other funders and we have a team of very professional service providers, so the prospects of making a real difference in the coming years, look really positive” said Ms Gloria Shamase the Chief Operating Officer of PSA.